Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement

by John Behr

Overview

Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement examines the ways in which Irenaeus and Clement understood what it means to be human. By exploring these writings from within their own theological perspectives, John Behr also offers a theological critique of the prevailing approach to the asceticism of Late Antiquity. Writing before monasticism became the dominant paradigm of Christian asceticism, Irenaeus and Clement afford fascinating glimpses of alternative approaches. For Irenaeus, asceticism is the expression of man living the life of God in all dimensions of the body, that which is most characteristically human and in the image of God. Human existence as a physical being includes sexuality as a permanent part of the framework within which males and females grow towards God. In contrast, Clement depicts asceticism as man's attempt at a godlike life to protect the rational element, that which is distinctively human and in the image of God, from any possible disturbance and threat, or from the vulnerability of dependency, especially of a physical or sexual nature. Here human sexuality is strictly limited by the finality of procreation and abandoned in the resurrection. By paying careful attention to these two writers, Behr offers challenging material for the continuing task of understanding ourselves as human beings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198270003
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/23/2000
Series:	Oxford Early Christian Studies
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

John Behr is the Dean of St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and Professor of Patristics and Metropolitan Kallistos Chair in Orthodox Theology at Vrije Universiteit. His previous publications include Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement (2000) and Irenaeus of Lyons: Identifying Christianity (OUP, 2013). He is also the co-editor of The Role of Life in Death: A Multidisciplinary Examination of Issues pertaining to Life and Death (Wipf and Stock, 2015; with C. Cunningham).

Table of Contents

AbbreviationsIntroductionPart I Irenaeus of Lyons: From Breath to Spirit1. The Economy of God2. The Human Formation3. Human GrowthPart II Clement of Alexandria: Tiptoeing on the Earth4. Anthropology5. Rebirth and Christian Life6. The Higher Christian Life: gnōsis, apatheia, agapēConclusionBibliographyIndex of CitationsGeneral Index

Editorial Reviews

"An excellent introduction for both beginning students and more seasoned faculty."— Journal of Religion

"Behr's work demonstrates knowledge of and the respect for the complexities of the thought of both Irenaeus and Clement." Journal of Early Christian Studies.

From the Publisher